Time stock-feeder.



'PATENTED J NE 2,1903.

M. SARSFIELD.

TIME STOCK FEEDER.

' ,APPLIQATIQ'N FILED MAY], 1902. LENBWED APB. 11, 1903.

no MODEL.

N TTE il STATES Patented June 2, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

TIME STOCK-FEEDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 729,675, dated June 2, 1903.

Application filed May 7,1902. Renewed April ll, 1908. Serial No. 162,264. (No model.)

or other feedingreceptacles by which the same may be automatically opened at a predetermined hour, thereby allowing the feed contained therein to be released and dropped into the feeding-trough, enabling the stock to be fed at a predetermined time without .the necessity for personal supervision and attendance upon the same, The releasing device of this invention is, moreover, of such simple construction that it may be employed with hoppers of ordinary.

construction and may be operated by the alarm-button of an ordinary alarm-clock without the necessity for readjustment or rearrangement either of the hopper or the clock, thereby facilitating its useand ease of application.

In the drawings illustrating the invention, Figure 1 is a plan view of a hopper having one side removed, with the releasing mechanism attached thereto, showing the connec-- tion therewith of an alarm=clock. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the releaser of this invention. Fig. 3 is a rear or back View of the releaser of this invention; and Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the releaser, showing the same in its sprung or released position.

As shown, the device of this invention is attached to a hopper A of ordinary construction, having side walls A, converging end walls a and a, terminating in straight end walls 13 and B, to one of which the releaser of this invention is attached. Thehopper is provided with a door I), hinged at one side by means of a' hin e b one member of which is attached to the end face of the end Wall E.

shown in Fig. 1.

hopper. chain or cord d, leading to the releaser D, and the releaser, as shown, is composed of two-members, an operating member D and a spring member D The member D is provided with side arms d, each terminating in a loop or eye d and connected together by means of a cross-arm d provided in its center with a loop or eye d, into which the chain is entered and secured. The spring member of the releaser is composed of a cross-arm E, having side arms (2 extending upward therefrom and forming in connection therewith at the loops or points of jointure half-eyes 6, around which the loops or eyes 61 of the side arms of the operating member are carried, connecting the two members of the release together. The side arms e each terminate in oppositely-turned coils Eflthe inner ends of which are turned out and up, forming necks 6 over and around which is carried-the staple or strap a seen ring the releaser to a base or plate, which base or plate is provided with Openihgsffor the passage therethrough of the operating-arms of thereleaser and is further provided with holes or perforations f for the passage therethrough of screws or bolts for the purpose of securing the releaser in operative position in relation to the hopper, as

The releaser is automatieall y operated by a trigger G,positioned within a hole or opening 9 in the base or plate, and the trigger is provided with a trip-arm g and an operating-arm g in angular relation to the trip-arm, and the trigger-is provided with a loopor eye g at thepoint of connection of the two arms, through which is passed a pivot-pin 9 having its ends secured in the base or plate and serving to hold the trigger in pivotal relation to the base or plate.

The free end of the trip-arm of the trigger is provided with a catch g and the free end of the operating-arm of the trigger is provided with aneye g for the passage therethrough of an operating-chain H, a pull uponwhich serves to throw down the catch of the trigger out of engagement withthe cross-arm of'the spring member of the releaser, thereby allowing the springs or coils to act and throw the releaser into the position shown in Fig. 4, whereby a tension is exerted on the chain d, causing the bolt on the door to be withdrawn Fixedly attached to the stud c is a l from the catch on the side wall of the hopper and allowing the door to'fall open by gravity and release the feed contained within the hopper. The chain H is carried through a hole 7?, in the base or plate and leads to an arm h of an alarm-button 72, upon the alarm-clock Lwhich rests upon a shelf 2', or other-suitable means of support, in proximity to the hopper to be operated.

In use the feed to be dropped is deposited in the hopper and the door closed and locked by means of the catch-bolt upon its bottom, and the releaser is then drawn back under tension from the coil-spring and locked by means of the trigger being brought into engagement with the cross-arm of the spring member of the releaser, and this movement serves to draw back the operating-chain sufficiently to tighten the same, so that a slight movement of the alarm-button on the clock will serve to draw the chain sufficiently to move the trigger and release the spring member of the releaser from engagement therewith, thereby causing the releaser to fly forward and exert a tension on the releasingchain, moving the bolt out of contact with the catch and allowing the door of the hopper to fall down by gravity and release the feed contained therein,

Although, as described,a coil-spring is em-' ployed, it is plain that a flat spring or other suitable means may be used Without changing the character or operation of the invention, and, furthermore, it is plain that a series of releasers may be operated by the action of a single alarm-clock, thereby simultaneously opening a number of hoppers and providing for the dropping of feed into a series of stalls.

What I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an automatic feeder, the combination of a feed-receptacle, a hinged door in the bottom thereof, adraW-lock for the door, a springoperated releaser connected with the lock and consisting of a spring member and an operating member in angular relation thereto, a trigger held in engagement with the spring member of the releaser by the tension on the latter and consisting of a trip member and an operating member in angular relation thereto, a clock having an alarm-button operative at a predetermined time, and a connection between the operating member of the trigger and the alarm-button for operating the trigger to free the releaser from pressure and draw the lock, substantially as described.

2. In an automatic feeder, the combination of a fee-d-receptaclefa hinged door in the bottom of the receptacle, adraw-lock for the door, a plate fixedly attached to the receptacle, a releaser fixedly attached to the plate and consisting of a spring member having a crossarm and side arms terminating in coil-springs and an operative member connected with the spring member, a connection between the draw-lock and the operative member, a trigger pivoted to the plate and engaging with the cross-arm of the spring member to hold the same back under tension, a clock having a connection between the trigger and the arm of the clock for operating the trigger to free the releaser from pressure and draw the lock, substantially as described.

3. In an automatic feeder, the combination of a feed-receptacle, a hinged door in the bottom of the receptacle, a bolt on the door, a catch on the receptacle with which the bolt engages, a plate fixedly attached to and downwardly extending from the receptacle, a releaser fixedly attached to the plate and consisting of a spring member having a cross-arm and side arms upwardly extending therefrom provided with coil-springs and terminating in necks fixedly attached to the plate and an operating member consisting of side arms attached to the side arms of the spring member and a cross-arm connecting the side arms, a trigger pivoted within a hole in the plate and consisting of a trip member and an operative member in angular relation thereto, a connection between the bolt and the operative member of the releaser, a clock provided with an arm operative at a predetermined time, and a connection between the operative member of the trigger and the arm on the clock for freeing the releaser from engagement with the trigger to draw the bolt and open the door, substantially as described.

MICHAEL SARS FIELD.

Witnesses:

OSCAR W. BOND, WALKER BANNING. 

